leslie



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1,

S E. LESLIE. ICE PLOW AND FLANGER FOR RAILROAD TRACKS.

No. 419,335. Patented Jan. 14, 1 890.

. By Ix ATTORNEYS.

owllum n hu. Wildlingion, D. Q

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet E. LESLIE. ICE PLOW AND FLANGER FOR RAILROADTRACKS.

No. 419,335. Patented Jan. 14, 1890.

W R, 352w WITNESSES: INVENTOH:

N. PETERS. PPPP ma hh h h er. Washington. a. c I

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. LESLIE.

IGE PLOW AND FLANGEB. FOR RAILROAD T-RKGKS.

No". 419,335. Pa tented'Jal i. 14, 1890.

WITNESSES. l/VVE/VTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets- Sheet 4; v

E. LESLIE.

IGE PLOW AND PLANGER FOR RAILROAD TRACKS.

No. 419,335. Patented Jan. 14,1890.

A T TOR/VE Y 8.

N. PETERS. Phelu-Lilhogrzpher, Washington. 0. c.

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD LESLIE, OF ORANGEVI LLE, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ICE-PLOW AND FLANGER FOR RAILROAD-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,335, dated January14, 1890.

Application filed June 11, 1888. Renewed 111118 27, 1889. Serial No.315,833. (No model.)

granted. to me March 27, 1888.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved ice-plowand flanger spe cially adapted for loosening the hardened snow or ice onthe insides of the rails andremoving the loose snow and ice from betweenthe traok-rails to a suitable distance on the outsides of the rails. f

The invention consists of an ice-plow and a fianger adapted to be raisedand lowered automatically and simultaneously when the plow strikes anobstruction-such as a switch-in the track.

The invention further consists in the special construction of thedanger, and also in certain parts and details and combinations of thesame, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out'inthe claims.

, Hitherto track-clearing devices have been mounted on spring-supports,which would enable them to yieldwhen an obstruction was met.

' My invention broadly consists of trackclearing devices carried by awheeled frame, and when inthe operative position are under the strain ofsuitable springs, the force of, which is resisted by catches, and whichspring or springs are of sufficient power to automatically raise thetrack-clearing devices, which are automatic in their construe-j tion,when the catches are freed from their holdings by an abnormalobstruction. i

I believe myself to be the first person to "have constructedtrack-clearing mechanisms arranged to automatically elevate themselvesby the power previously stored up in a spring or springs when aresistance-such as a switch,

guard-rail, railroad-crossing, or other like fixture connected with theroad-bed is encountered.

I have shown my invention as carried out in the best form; but itismanifest that many changes canbe made therein and still embody thebroad feature of my inventionto wit, track-clearers which willautomatically elevate themselves by a stored-11 p forcesuch as that of aspring-when an obstruction of the nature above referred to isencountered.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of theimprovement on the line of w a; of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same, showing the ice-plow and flangerin a raised position. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the improvement.Fig. 6 is a similar view of a modified form of the same, and Fig; 7 is aperspective view of one of the fiangers.

The improved ice-plow and flanger is mounted on a railroad-truck A, ofany approved construction, and provided with the usual frame B and thefront and rear wheels 1 C and C, respectively traveling on the rails DD. On the front end of the truck-frame Bis mounted to turnin suitablebearings the shaft E, provided with a crank-arm E, carrying avertical-frame F, of suitable construction, its inner side" restingagainst the longitudinal beams B of the truck-frame B.

In the lower end of the frame F is jour naled, in suitable bearings, ashaft G, provided on each end with asnow-plow- H, which plows ingagainst a lug J, saidlugs J being secured to the outer ends of the shaftJ, mounted to turn in suitable hearings on the frameF and locateddirectly above the shaft G. One or more springs G are coiled on theshaft Gand serve to hold the arms H of the plows H in contact with thelugs F. Similar coil-sprin gs J 2 are held on the shaft J, so as to holdthe lugs J in contact with the fronts of the arms H of the plows H.

To the middle of the shaft J is secured an arm J connected by arearwardly-extending link J with one end of a lever J fulcrumed in itsmiddle on a suitable pivot secured to th e 1 longitudinal beams B of thetruck-frame B. The other end of the lever J 5 is pivotally c011- nectedby a link J 6 with an arm K, secured to the transverse shaft K, mountedto turn in suitable bearings on the longitudinal beams of thetruck-frame B. On the shaft K is also secured'an arm K extending nearlyat right angles to the arm K and resting on the top of a crank-arm L,formed on a shaft L, mounted to turn in suitable bearings secured to thelongitudinal beams B. On the ends of the shaft L are secured the disks Leach provided with a shoulder L adapted to be engaged by a hook N,formed on one end of an arm N secured by its other end on a verticalframe N, hung on a crank-arm O, formed on a shaft 0, mountedtransversely in suitable bearings on the truck-frame B. The frame Nsupports at each lower end a flan ger P, plainly shown in perspective inFig. 7, and consisting of the curved part P, having a downwardlyextending flange P reaching on the inside of the rail, and from the partP extends upwardly and outwardly the similarly-curved part P so as toform the scoop of the flanger. The inner part P extends almost parallelwith the track-rails D, while the rear outer part P extends at an angleof about forty-five degrees from the said inner part P and the rails D.The flangers P are also supported near their outer ends P by a frame Q,hung on a crank-arm R, formed on a transverse shaft R, mounted to turnin suitable hearings on the main truck-frame B. On each end of the shaftR is secured an arm R pivotally connected by a link R with an arm Owhich arms are secured to the outer ends of the shaft 0 and heldparallel with the arms R on the shaft R. Thus when the arms O are movedthe other arms R are moved simultaneouslyin the same direction. From theends of the shaft 0 also extend the arms 0 in an opposite direction tothe arms 0 and the said arms 0 are pivotally connected by the links 0with the arms E secured on the outer ends of the transverse shaft E,mounted on the front of the truckframe 13. The arms 0 are pivotallyconnected by the links S with the arms S, secured on the ends of a shaftS mounted to turn in suitable bearings formed 011 top of the main frame13. The arms S extend parallel to the arms 0 and opposite the said armsS extend from the shaft S the arms S pivotally connected with the links0 Thus when the shaft S is moved the arms 0 and S are movedsimultaneously and impart a forward or backward movemcut.to the link 0On the shaft S is secured a lever T,

which extends upward and is either connected with suitable machinery foractuating the said lever T or may be operated by hand. On the shaft 0are coiled one or more springs 0 acting on the said shaft in such amanner that the crank-arms O are pressed rearward, thus holding thehooks N of the arms N secured to the frame. N, in firm contact with theshoulders L of the disks L secured on the ends of the shaft L. Inconsequence of this the crank-arm L of the said shaft L is pressedupward against the arm K of the shaft K, and the latter is provided withcoiled springs K for counteracting this upward pressure on the arm K bypressing the latter downwarch Similar coiled springs may be placed onthe shaftsR and E. I p

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the two plows H are hung on separateframes, each provided with the same mechanism as above described inreference to the frame F. The modification is the same in all respectsas the one above described, each side of the truck being a duplicate ofthe other and having, consequently, an independent movement.

Any suitable means may be employed to regulate the tension of thesprings.

The operation is as follows: When the iceplow and fl'anger is in theposition shown in Fig. 3,the plows H loosen any snow adhering to theinsides of the rails D D, and the scrapers I, secured to the said plowsH, remove all snow or ice on top of the rail and discharge the loosenedsnow to the outside of the rail. Each flanger P gathers up all the snowloosened by the plow H and a considerable portion of the snow or iceremaining on the inside of each railD byits flange P extending downwardand inward from the rails D. The snow scooped up by the flangers Ptravels from the inner part P to the outer inclined part P and isfinally landed at a suitable distance on the outside of each rail. Thesnow or ice gathered up by each flanger P does notpass above the upperedge and again fall on the inside of the track, as the said flanger P iscurved, as is plainly shown in Fig. 7, but travels in the curved part ofthe flanger to the outsides of the rails. When the ice-plow and flangeris in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the truck A is pushed forward andeither or both of the ice-plows H strike an obstruction in the tracksuchas a switch, for instancethe momentum of the truck causes the ice-plowsH to swing rearwardly a short distance, so that their upwardly-extendingarms H press against the arms J, whereby the latter are swung forwardand turn the shaft J ,which imparts an upwardly-swingiugmotion to thearm J pivotally connected with the lever J which, by the link J impartsa swinging motion to the arms K and K on the shaft K, so that the arm Kswings upward and permits the turning of the shaft L, whereby the hooksN of the arms N are disengaged from the shoulders L of the disks L onthe said shaft L.

or other like obstructionwill be removed The springs O on the shaft 0then cause the latter -to swing the crank-arm O rearward and upward verysuddenly, thus raising the fram es N and Q and moving the flangers P inthe same direction until they assume the position 'shown in Fig. 4. Therearward and upward swinging motion of the frames N and Q causes turnedin its bearings and causes a forward and upward swlngin g motion of thecran k-arms E, thus raising the frame F, car'ryingalong the plows Handthe scrapers I. Theplows'H, the scrapers I, and the flangers P arethen suddenly and simultaneously moved upward automatically out ofcontact with the obstruction in the track. When the obstruc tion ispassed, the operator throws the lever T rearward in the direction of thearrow at, whereby the shaft S -is turned and imparts a turningmotionto-the shafts O, R, and E by the respective connections with thesaid shaft S. are thus again swung downward and forward, so that theflangers P swing downward and forward until they assume theirformerpositions and the hooksN again engage the shoulders "L of the-disks L Atthe same time the shaft E causes its crank-arm E to swing downwardandrearward, so that the frame F slides downward and the ice-plowsH andscrapers I again pass in close proximity to the rails, as beforedescribed. The shaft L, its disks L and its crank-arm L assume theirnormal positionssoon after the ice-plows and scrapers are raised whenthe former strikes an ob- 'struction in the track, asv the springs J on'the shaft J and the springs G on the shaft -'acting on the crank-armsL, cause the shaft L to turn until the shoulders L on the disks L haveassumed their former positions-that is, so as to be ready to receive thehooks N when the lever T is turned, as above de-i scribed. Thearrangement of the plow H between the rails is such that the trippingaction which will result in an automatic elevation of the Hangers and anaccompanying elevation of the plows and scrapers will take placeordinarily only when an abnormal resistance is met with below the levelof the tops of the rails, and anything-such as'a log, stone,

from the track without causing the devices The arms 0 and R of theshafts O and R to be elevated. The reason of this is that ordinaryobstructions lying above the rail level are so close to the fulcrum ofthe plow Hthat unless they amount to an obstruction in the nature of afixture they will not trip and let free the elevating mechanism.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the plows H H are hung on separateframes F, so that when one of the plows strikes an obstruction in thetrack it and its respective flanger P are raised out of contact with thesaid ohstruction in the same manner as above described in reference tothe plows and flangers shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. The tension ofthe springs J 2 and G is such'as to hold the ice-p10 ws H, when in theirlowermost positions, against the snow or ice between the tracks;

but when the ice -plows strike an obstructionsuch as a switch-themomentum of the truck causes a rearward swinging motion of theplows Hagainst the tension of the springsJ and G. In case the ice-plow shouldmiss the obstacle in the track and the inner end of the flanger strikeit, then the pull on the flanger tu rns-the shaft L and its crank-arm Lagainst the force of the spring K? on the shaft K. The hook N is thusdisengaged from the shoulder L of the locking-plate L and the force ofthe spring 0 causes the frame N to swing upward and rearward, therebyraising the flangei'a' in the same direction without injuring "theflangers as the latter move away from the 0bstacle.

Having thus fully described m yinvention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 61' adapted toautomatically raise said rail-clear- .ing mechanism, substantially asshown and described.

2. The combination of track-clearing devicesjcarried by a suitablewheeled frame IIO and springs under tension adapted to raisethetrack-clearing devices when an abnormal obstruction is met,substantially as described. y 3. 'Ihe combination of two sets oftrackclear'ing devices,.one set preceding and the other set following awheeled truck, andsprings undertension adapted toraise thetrack-clearing devices when an abnormalobstruction is met, substantiallyas described;

4. The combination, with a wheeled'frame and track-clearing devices,- ofsprings under tension adapted to raise such track-clearing devices andcatches adapted to hold the said devices down when inworking positionand arranged to free the same, so that the springs may be operative whenan abnormal obstruction is met, substantially as described. I

5. The combination of a wheeled frame,

leading and following track-clearing devices,

springs under tension, and catches so arranged that the leadingtrack-clearing devices first free the following track clearing devices,which are rais'edby the springs-and they in their turn raise the leadingtrack-clearin g devices, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a wheeled frame,

leading and following rail-clearing devices, springs under tension, andcatches so arranged that the leading track-clearing devices trip andpass over an abnormal obstruction, at the same time tripping the flangeron the rear of the truck, allowing it to be raised .by the springsbefore it reaches the obstruc- -tion, and in rising at the same timeelevat -ing the leading track-clearing devices, substantially asdescribed.

7. The combination, with a truck, of a frame mounted to slide verticallyon the said truck and an ice-plow held on the said frame and mounted toturn on the same, substan tially as shown and described.

8. The combination, with a truck, of a frame mounted to slide verticallyon the said truck, an ice-plow held on the said frame and mounted toturn on the same, and a spring for holding the ice-plow in place inrelation to the rails and against the snow or ice to be loosened,substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination, with a truck, of a frame mounted to slide verticallyon the said truck, an ice-plow held on the said frame and mounted toturn on the same, springs for holding the ice-plow in place in relationto the rails and against the snowor ice to be loosened, and means,substantially as described, for causing the said frame to slidevertically when the said plow strikes a solid obstruction in the track,as set forth.

10. The combination, with a truck, of a frame held to slide verticallyon the front end of the said truck, a shaft mounted to turn onthe saidframe, an ice-plow secured 011 the .said shaft, and springs acting onthe said shaft to hold said plow in position, substantially as shown anddescribed.

spring on the second shaft returning it and its arm to their normalposition, and thereby locking the ice-plow in its normal position,

substantially as described.

12. An ice-plow, a shaft carrying the said ice-plow, a spring held onthe said shaft, and an arm secured onthe said shaft, in combinationwit-h a second shaft provided with an arm engaging the first-named shaftand a spring held on the said second shaft, which holds with its arm theice-plow until the latter receives an abnormal strain, which swings theice-plow rearwardly, the said first-named spring returning the ice-plowto its normal position after being relieved from the abnormal strain,substantially as described.

13. The combination, with a frame mounted to slide vertically on thetruck, of a shaft mounted to turn on the said frame, an iceplow held onthe said shaft, and a spring for holding the said shaft and plow inplace against the snow or ice on the track and until the plow strikes asolid obstruction in the track, substantially as shown and described.

14. The combination, with an ice-plow, of a fianger located in the rearof the said iceplow and controlled by the same, substantially as shownand described.

15. The combination, with an ice plow mounted toturn and to slidevertically, of a flanger located in the rear of the ice-plow andcontrolled by the. same when the plow strikes a solid obstruction in thetrack, so as to raise the said flanger above the track, substantially asshown and described.

16. The combination, with a truck, of an ice-plow mounted to slidevertically in the front of the said truck and a danger located at therear of the said truck and controlled by the said ice-plow,substantially as shown and described.

17. The combination, with a truck, of a frame mounted to slidevertically on the front of the said truck, an ice-plow mounted to turnon the said frame, a second frame mounted to slide vertically on therear of the said truck, and flangers supported by the said rear frameand controlled by the said ice-plow, substantially as shown anddescribed.

18. The combination, with a truck, of a frame mounted to slidevertically on the front of the said truck, a shaft mounted to turn onthe said frame, ice-plows secured on the ends of the said shaft, springsholding the said ice-plows in position on the said frame, a second framemounted to slide vertically on the rear of the said truck, and flangerssupported by the said rear frame and controlled by the said ice-plows,substantially as shown and described.

19. The combination, with a truck, of a frame mounted to slidevertically on the front of the said truck, a shaft mounted to turn onthe said frame, ice-plows secured on the ends of the said shaft, springsholding the said ice-plows in position on the said frame, a second framemounted to slide verticallyon the rear of thesaid truck, Hangerssupported by the said rear frame and controlled by the said ice-plows,and means, substantially as described, for raising and lowering saidframes on the front and rear of the truck simultaneously, as set forth.

20. The combination, with a truck, of a frame mounted to slidevertically on the rear of the said truck, Hangers supported on the saidframe, and a lock for locking the said flangers in their lowermostposition, substantially as shown and described.

21. The combination,withatruck, ofaframe mounted to slide vertically onthe rear of the said truck, flangers supported on the said frame, a lockfor locking the said flangers in their lowermost position, and anice-plowconnected with the said lock to unlock it whenever the plowstrikes an obstruction in the track, substantially as shown anddescribed.

22. The combinatiomwith a truck, of aframe mounted to slide verticallyon the rear of the said truck, flangers supported on the said frame, alock for locking the said flangers in their lowermost positions, andmeans, substantially as described, for unlocking the said lockautomatically, as set forth.

23. The combination, with atruck, of a shaft mounted on the rear of saidtruck and provided with a crank-arm, a frame hungon the said crank-arm,flangers secured on the lower ends of the said frame, and a springacting on the said shaft to raise the said frame when the flangers areunlocked, substantially as shown and described.

24. The combination, with a truck and locking-plates mounted to turn onthe said truck, of a frame mounted to swing vertically on the rear ofthe said truck, flangers supported by the said frame, and a hookengaging the said locking-plates to hold the said flangers in a lockedposition, substantially as shown and described.

25. The combination, with a truck and lockin g-platesmounted to turn onthe said truck by the action of the ice-plow, of a shaft mounted on thesaid shaft, of an arm acting on the said crank-arm, a shaft carrying thesaid arm and provided with a second arm'receiving a forward swingingmotion, and aspring coiled on the said shaft to cause areturn motion ofthe latter when acted on by the said second arm, substantially as shownand described.

27. The combination, with a frame mounted to swing vertically on thefront of the truck, of a shaft mounted to turn on the saidframe andcarrying the ice-plow and scrapers,springs acting on the said shaft tohold the ice-plow in position on the said frame, a second shaft mountedon the said frame and provided with an arm engaging an arm on the saidice-plow, a spring coiled on thesaid shaft, and athird shaft located inthe rear of the said first two shafts and connected withthe secondshaft, said third shaft controlling the unlocking of the flangers,substantially as shown and described.

EDWARD LESLIE.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. HOSTER, O. SEDGWICK.

